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Events
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The season is here! Get involved on game-day or with any of these ECS events. For anymore information please see the forums.
April
3rd- SSFC vs NYRB 7:30PM
10th- SSFC @ SLC 6PM Viewing @ the Atlantic Crossing
17th- SCFC vs KC 12 PM
19th- SSFC @ FCD Viewing @ Shultzy's & College Inn
25th- SSFC @ TFC 11 AM |
ECS FC
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| ECS FC's winter season ended with a loss in the finals of the play offs. 2nd place is is still an excellent end to the season.
Click Here
for pictures of the ECS FC's Rain soaked (un)friendly game against the TA
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The Month in Review: March 2010
Editor: March was a busy month. Here are some of our favorite images of the ECS from the month of March (a special thanks to Melissa Brassard for many of the photos).
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Away Viewings
If you can't join the Sounders and the ECS on the road come checkout the game at one of our viewing parties in Seattle or the viewings hosted by the many ECS subgroups around the state, and around the country! Remeber to bring your ECS membership card as all these places have drink specials just for us.
Seattle: Varies.
4/10: at the Atlantic Crossing (6508 Roosevelt Way NE Seattle, WA 98115 (206) 729-6266),
4/19: at Shultzy's (4114 University Way Northeast Seattle, WA 98105 (206) 548-9461)and the College Inn (4000 University Way Northeast Seattle, WA 98105).
Everett: The Irishman (2923 Colby Avenue Everett, WA 98201-4010 (425) 374-5783)
Spokane: Waddell's w/ 509 Pime(4318 South Regal Street Spokane, WA 99223-7707 (509) 443-6500)
Bellingham: McKay's Taphouse w/ 3B (1118 East
Maple Street
Bellingham,
WA 98225-5711 (360)
647-3600)
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ECS Sub Groups: Bellingham Border Boys (3B)
The Bellingham Border Boys, or 3B for short, are an ECS sub-group
based in Bellingham. We started out as a group for any northern
supporters and ended up with a base in Bellingham. I personally joined
this year because I am a freshman at WWU. Last year from what I heard,
3B never really got going, with not a lot of leadership. This year is
different and we have a core of four dedicated ECS members wanting to
see this group succeed. Fox3r, SP The Ghost, currahee, and I (tiki18)
have met at least once a week for a couple months now and have set
goals for the group this coming year and started making some 3B
two-poles. We are actively recruiting new members and hope to be a
great sub-group of the ECS.
Eric Hodel aka. tiki18
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Electioneering: Angeline Bounds for Alliance Council
" I have decided to run for Seattle Sounders FC Alliance Council. I
have been an active Emerald City Supporter since the USL days. Now that
we have the Inaugural season under our belt, I want to help make 2010
the best year ever. With my dedication to the team and passion as a
supporter I would be a great asset to the council. I want to make sure
that the supporters' voices are heard as we continue to watch our club
grow."
Voting is simple and easy: go to the voting website (https://eballot.votenet.com/SeattleSoccer/login.cfm), log in, select ballot "Sounders FC
Council Member Nomination", and enter "Angeline Bounds". (Most of you
know me as Angie, but for your vote to be counted, my name must be
entered identical to what my season tickets are under.)
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Who Are Ya?: Jim a.k.a. Tallguy
1) When and how did you first follow soccer?
I played as a kid and
had been a fan of the sport for a long time. I followed the World Cups,
especially after 1994, and when I lived in Spokane, I kept up with the
then PDL team over there- the Spokane Shadow (now defunct and replaced
by the stupid "Spiders"). Even though soccer wasn't my top sport for a
long time, I would still stop and watch games I found on TV- even early
MLS action. (Tallguy shudders at the memories)
2) When and how did you first meet up with the ECS?
After
Germany '06, the flame that had been flickering was rekindled. I had
since moved to Seattle and decided it was time to support my local side
again, since I did consider myself an orphan of sorts after the Shadow
folded. I looked at the Sounders website and followed a link to a group
calling itself the "Emerald City Supporters," who invited all to come
stand and cheer on the boys. So, at the Montreal match in July, 2006, I
went to the game and sat near the ECS. I wasn't too sure at the time
that I wanted to support a team like they did, but figured at the least
I would be entertained. I didn't make too many more games that year,
but did buy season tickets for 2007. It was that year that I became
fully ECS. I was hooked on what they were doing and the vision they had.
3) What is supporter culture to you and why are you a supporter?
To
me, supporter culture is all about giving every ounce energy that
you've got because the game has few breaks for the lads to rest. It is
necessary to give them everything you've got to keep them energized for
the full 90. If you've ever played the game yourself in front of family
and friends, then you know what I'm talking about. It's that feeling
that seeps in from outside of you and recharges that inner core.
As
for why I am a supporter: I support, therefore I am. Some of the best
friends I have ever made are in the ECS. This group of miscreants and
misfits has become family to me.
4) What is your favorite moment being a supporter?
Good question. There are so many great moments to choose from. Maybe I'll just list a few:
1. Any time we beat Port-scum, and yeah, Wank-ouver also.
2.
Eylander making that great save when Puerto Rico took us to PK's in the
2007 playoff semis. It put us through to the final against Atlanta that
we won easily.
3. When they announced that the MLS team would be
called "Sounders" and they kept with the history and tradition that we
had already built here instead of "looking to the future" as Garber
wanted.
4. The TOBL banner.
5. Tifo nights
6. Etc, etc.
5) What is the game day experience like for you?
It's
like coming home after a long and lonely trip. It's like a coma patient
waking up and asking for a beer. It's like Tyrone (from Chapelle Show)
showing up at the 5 o'clock free crack give-away. It's heaven.
6) Besides the addition of new members, how have things changed in the last few years?
Actually,
the best thing that happened to the ECS, IMHO, is the addition of new
members. That was one of our reasons for existing. Not necessarily the
gaining of members, but the spreading of the passion we felt, and feel
still. It was new people coming in that allowed us to pull of great
tifo like the TOBL banner. Of course, it also brought us people like
Null, so I guess you have to take the good with the bad.
7) What would you like to see from the ECS in the future?
Two-thousand-plus
people in perfect harmony with each other and the lads. We may have
numbers close to that, but the "perfect harmony" is still a work in
progress. The biggest thing I would like people to work more on (and
this includes myself as well) is following the capo more. Without some
sort of control of game-day direction, we'd sound like a Seahawks game
instead. What makes us different from other Seattle sports fans is the
cohesion and unity in our songs and chants (and the number of songs is
staggering, we do this well). This is also what sets us apart from the
other supporters groups in MLS. Sure, some have capos, yes, but few of
those really follow their capo as well as we do already. Some groups
literally have only one song. They suck. Following our capo more would
start to put us on a level with groups overseas. I would also love to
see more like-minded individuals moving into 122 at least and join in
the fun. Sing, pogo, lose your voice. (And follow the capo! That's what
makes us so cool!)
 In a tag team Judo match(I'm sure this
happens all the time) if you had to chose one partner and two opponents
among the ECS SSFC council members who would they be and why?
Now, I
have given this on a lot of thought. Something this serious deserves a
serious answer. As for my partner, I would have to choose McKenzie (I
hear he can really build an awesome defensive wall from Legos). As far
as opponents go, Greg (because I've always wanted to see what he would
look like without teeth) and Arthur (because I think he secretly knows
Tae Kwon Do). And, yes this does happen often.
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Play List: David Rountree a.k.a. dtree
Each month we are asking one supporter about what music they are currently listening to. This month it is David a.k.a dtree who has been with the ECS scince the USL days and has a fondness for skinny pants.
1) Joy Division – Substance (1988)
In the wake of the punk explosion in England, Joy Division became the
first band in the post-punk movement by later emphasizing not anger and
energy but mood and expression, pointing ahead to the rise of melancholy
alternative music in the '80s. Though the group's raw initial sides fit
the bill for any punk band, Joy Division later incorporated
synthesizers (taboo in the low-tech world of '70s punk) and more
haunting melodies, emphasized by the isolated, tortured lyrics of its
lead vocalist, Ian Curtis. While the British punk movement shocked the
world during the late '70s, Joy Division's quiet storm of musical
restraint and emotive power proved to be just as important to
independent music in the 1980s. This album is a great compilation of
their stuff from 1977 to Curits' death in 1980 before they went on to
form New Order.
2) They Might Be Giants – Then: The Early Years (1997)
This two-disc set pulls together all of They Might Be Giants work prior
to Flood, the album that marked their signing to a major label. With a
staggering 72 songs one can assume that some of them are bound to be
short, but brevity was always the band's specialty. Bear in mind that
this is also the duo that pioneered their Dial-A-Song service before
they even had any releases out. They Might Be Giants self-titled debut
and its successor, Lincoln, are here, as are all the assorted B-sides
and 19 bonus tracks. With the exception of two single remixes, this set
also absorbed Miscellaneous T in its entirety. A dizzying array of
hook-filled songs brimming with catchy absurdities make it clear that
the duo of John Linnel and John Flansburgh kept themselves busy during
every moment of the late '80s. If you only know of these guys from
their work on the Malcolm on the Middle theme song, you really need to
take in this unconventionally and staggeringly creative album.
3) Stereolab – Dots and Loops (1997)
An inclination for melodic '60s pop with an art rock aesthetic borrowed
from Krautrock bands like Faust and Neu!, Stereolab were one of the most
influential alternative bands of the '90s. Led by Tim Gane and Laetitia
Sadier, Stereolab either legitimized forms of music that were on the
fringe of rock, or brought attention to strands of pop music — bossa
nova, lounge-pop, movie soundtracks — that were traditionally banished
from the rock lineage. The group's trademark sound — a droning,
hypnotic rhythm track overlaid with melodic, mesmerizing singsong
vocals, often sung in French and often promoting revolutionary, Marxist
politics — was deceptively simple, providing the basis for a wide array
of stylistic experiments over the course of their prolific career.
Throughout it all, Stereolab relied heavily on forgotten methods of
recording, whether it was analog synthesizers and electronics or a
fondness for hi-fi test records, without ever sinking to the level of
kitsch.
4) Pavement -
Slanted and Enchanted (1992)
Two smart young college guys with a bunch of catchy, cryptic songs
and a taste for peculiar sonics go into a studio with a showboating
older drummer and come out with one of the definitive indie-rock albums.
Beneath its coils of raw distortion and screaming-for-the-hell-of-it,
Pavement's first full-length disc gets over on the strength of stellar
songwriting and ingenious melodicism. Sometimes Steve Malkmus's sly,
evocative word-games reveal genuine emotion ("Here"), and sometimes they
just pay tribute to his favorite bands ("Conduit For Sale!" is a nod to
the Fall), but these songs are unconventional in a way that set the
convention for bands that came after them.
5) Built to Spill – There's Nothing Wrong with Love (1994)
Like Pavement, Doug Martsch's
compositions were filled with fractured song structures and melodies,
often veering abruptly into new sections with little attention to
continuity or traditional form. His lyrics had all the loopy wit and pop
culture references of many a '90s slacker icon, but Martsch changed
things up with a genuine wistfulness borrowed from Neil Young's more
introspective moments. Unlike Pavement, Built to Spill were never hailed
as rock's next great hope; they were neither as revolutionary nor as
eclectic, and their music — with its winding instrumental passages and
less immediate construction — required more effort to absorb. Instead,
they remained even more firmly underground, where their unorthodox
approach enjoyed tremendous support from the indie faithful.
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Awaydays: Vancouver White Caps
Editor: Colin was one of the over 100 people who made it up to Vancouver for the pre-season game against the White Caps. Colin is also the starting keeper for ECS FC.
(names are kept the same and true to embarrass the people contained in this story)
Starting
Line up- Marshall(D), Hurtado(D), Gonzales(D), Wahl(D,?), Montero(ST),
Zakuani(LWM), Keller(GK), Nyassi(ST), Sturgis(CAM), Alonso(CDM),
Ljungberg(RWM).
Many months ago I stood still and
anxious as I watched the last 4-5 minutes of extra time in Houston. If
you will remember we were playing for the Semi-final spot in the
Western Conference and we were tied 0-0 after the first game in
Seattle. As those minutes ticked away, defeat seemed certain and the
end of the most revolutionary year of my life was about to come to a
close. Houston went on to win the game and then proceed to lose to the
LA Galaxy in the Semi-finals. I will never forget the sadness, anger
and disappointment of the hour after the game. We left the stadium to
taunting and cheering Houston fans with our heads hung and some tears
in peoples eyes. This defeat seemed to remain in me for some time after
and I can honestly say that it evaporated just 24 hours ago.
It was
6:45am when my alarm went off and I forced myself out of bed. I walked
to my downstairs and kicked Nick awake, telling him he had 15 minutes
to get up and be out the door. We proceeded to pick up Micheal, Sarah,
Russ, Ying and Lokesh. After a few trips to Safeway and the destruction
of a cooler (ask me in person about that) which was fixed with pink
duct tape, we were off to Northgate. A common drive was soon met with
confusion when no one in the van actually knew where in Northgate we
were going. We decided to check our cell phones and consult the maps,
didn't really help though. Eventually we pulled into a parking lot that
seemed like the right place and we cruised around looking for any sign
of Sounders life. To our despair there was no such luck until in the
distance we spotted a white car, two men, and a LOT OF BASS. It was
Eagle Bear with his trademark trance techno blasting out for all the
world to hear. We then parked the van in the shade and popped open all
the doors. A slow crowd started to build as people began to break the
open container law in rather large numbers. For the minors of the group
(if there were any, not admitting shit) they might have been using
paper bags ala homeless style to conceal their sprites and coca-colas.
Talk and conversation was the norm until the buses arrived from the
south stop and we were rushed to the adjacent parking lot.
When we
arrived at the parking lot we were then informed that we had to all
turn around and head back to the lot we had just come from. In typical
mass ECS moans and groans everyone reentered the lot. The buses pulled
up, tickets exchanged and buses assigned. I threw the two polls and
flags in under the bus and then claimed the back of the bus with Iwo
Jima like force. The back of the bus consisted of (sorry if I forgot
ya) Me, Nick, Sarah, Micheal, Russ, Ying, Lokesh, Robbie, Christian,
Reese, Juan, and a few others. It didn't take more than a minute before
beers were passed around and the drinking commenced. A few more minutes
in, singing began. I won't bore
you with all the details of drinking, but on tap at R. Levesque Pub was
Guinness, Henry Wienhardts, PBR, Corona, vodka and a very special
slicing of water melon soaked in vodka and rum.
When we reached the
border most of us were pretty drunk or buzzing quite well. As we got
off the bus the sight of Ben (aka Foxer) "standing" against the wall,
for me, summed up about how well we were doing. While we pulled our
stragglers and already drunk members together we headed toward customs.
The Canadians seemed nice enough and would turn out to be far nicer
than our own security. It was all mundane except for one event. As I
approached the officer to hand him my papers I heard over his radio,
"Yeah, we have one guy out here, (laughs) he's really intoxicated, I
don't know if he is going to make it." To my surprise though we all
made it across and with some good acting by a few of us we got through
100%. That was until Ying forgot her green card and the guards turned
her away. Russ accompanied her and we were minus two people for the
rest of the trip.
As we departed the border minus two people, the
trip was about to take us into the woods. Before we knew it we were
wondering if we had been dropped into a horror movie, or if the South
Side had payed this driver to dump us off in the middle of nowhere. We
were rather confused as we traveled between farm houses, bright and
lively neighborhoods and the Canadian version of Watts with seemingly
odd proximity. As we pulled through an average neighborhood a stadium
came into view and we were wondering if it was behind the high school
stadium. Turns out this small ground was where we were to watch the
Sounders play and we couldn't help but poke fun of the toddler sized
stadium. The stadium really made me appreciate RBP and I hope the
players do too.
We entered the stadium with near 200 people and for
a good portion before the match occupied the majority of the
attendance. Our chants and singing caught the attention of all the
White Caps fans and we soon became the stars of our very own show. Once
inside we assembled again and walked into the terraces where for the
first time since Houston I had seen our boys. The happiness at that
moment was bursting out of me and took form in the song we sang. It was
interesting to notice the players not look up as we walked in, over
powering any noise in the "stadium." This is a great sign I would say,
our atmosphere is so great at every game that the players are no longer
surprised or distracted by it, they expect it.
Kick off came and
the Sounders came out aggressive. Noticeable starts for the Sounders
were Sanna Nyassi as right striker and Nathan Sturgis playing a
midfield role. The boys came out hard and played great short passes all
up the field (dare I say the days of the long ball Sounders are over?)
In the first half alone there were five offsides, called by a linesmen
with a case of stunted growth and parallax. The most notable action of
the first half was Steve Zakuani blasting past his first marker at
midfield and storming down the left side right in front of us. The
White Caps right back picked him up and in true, classic Zakuani
fashion he faked outside and cut in. He ripped a shot at the near post
and sent the keeper diving to his right to force the ball out of play
for a corner.
Half time came and I set off to buy my first legal
beer. I cut in front of at least 50 Canadians who were too busy talking
about curling or hockey or moose to notice my blatant cheat. My hopes
were almost crushed by an officer who though he might have found a kid
sneaking in to buy a drink. "Let me see your ID kid" he said. I opened
up my wallet and flashed it, 20 years old! I bought my Guinness and
left just after the kick off for the second half.
Second half saw
little chances on goal but did produce some new talent. Second half
substitutes consisted of Peter Vagenas, Micheal Fucito, David Estrada
and number 30 (there was no name and did not recognize him, SORRY
DUDE!) The new talent showed the lack of coordination that the starting
squad had, but they did play hard and Estrada was at one time confused
for a cheetah-like creature because of his speed. The half did produce
one scary through ball that Kasey Keller scooped up and dispatched of
appropriately. The end result was 0-0 as we grabbed all the two poles
and flags that we had brought. Keller came over to shake hands and
thank us for coming out.
Before we got back on the bus several male
members of the ECS, me included, made a dash to the woods to take care
of the beer we had consumed earlier. Why we did not use the bathrooms
in the stadium just dawned on me, but hey that is drinking for ya, one
point to common sense! We all filed out of the stadium and seemed
content with the draw after a long day.
Back aboard the bus we were
told that no more drinking was going to take place because a certain
ECS member felt he needed some sun, and decided to hang out the top of
the bus during the last minutes of our journey to the stadium. On this
depressing news a few members did what anyone would have done in that
situation. They grabbed a few beers and stuck them in bags and
sweatshirts. On the Levesque bus the talk turned quickly to football
and ECS politics. I will never forget the conversation between
Christian, Lokesh and Reese about modern football. I sat in the back
holding a sleeping girlfriend while they talked me all the way back
home, I felt as if I had a radio station with no FCC , it was damn
good. Another highlight was when Juan wanted to hear Chrisitan sing the
quote "German song." "Sing, sing the German song" demanded Juan.
Christian answered back "which one?" Juan said "the German one!" and
back and forth it went for not shorter than 5 minutes. Lokesh got
involved at this time and was asking Juan to sing the Argentine
national anthem. At this impasse it was decided the only logical thing
to do was sing the national anthems of Spain (Lokesh, I don't know why)
Germany (Christian) and Argentina (Juan). More bickering back and forth
produced no clear starting vocalist as all three urged the other two to
sing first. The decision was reached that all three would sing at the
same time starting on the count of three. What resulted can only be
pictured by the combination of Josh Wick's face, David Beckham's hair
and the Proboscis Monkey. This for me signaled the highlight of a
non-alcoholic (for the most part) trip back home.
When we arrived
in Northgate everyone said their goodbyes and headed to their cars. I
unloaded the two poles and flags and put them in the van. Nick,
Micheal, Sarah and I we headed to Bellevue to conclude the night. We
stopped at Reich Fuhrer Jason Ross's house and delivered the bag of ECS
goodies. After, I dropped everyone off and got home a little before
midnight. Looking back on the day I was very happy and, like always,
couldn't wait to go back out again. As I set my alarm to get up early
the next morning for another ECS event I realized that, "it was back."
The season was on again and the anger, tears and disappointment of the
Houston game had faded and were to be replaced by new memories of the
2010 season.
-Colin Nash, ECS and Sounders till I die.
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Coming up…
Next moth well have a couple more games under our belts, a note from the the Black Hills Militia, a look back at the soon to be legendary trip to Salt Lake City and much more…
If you have an articles you would like to send in, questions, or comments contact us at: newsletter@weareecs.com
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" Five days shalt thou
labour, as the Bible says. The seventh day is the Lord thy God's. The
sixth day is for football.
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- Anthony Burgess
Sincerely,
Emerald City Supporters
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